$500,000 in SA wine stolen in truck heist in NSW

MORE than 60,000 bottles of South Australian wine worth about $500,000 have been stolen while in transit in New South Wales.

The theft, which has affected up to 12 McLaren Vale wineries, happened over the Australia Day long weekend.

WineWorks Australia told adelaidenow that trailers carrying the wine were found empty about 4km from the Sydney depot of Wettenhalls Express Transport Group, which went into administration while in possession of the wine.

The 62,000 bottles did not arrive at the company's depot over the long weekend as scheduled and it is unclear how the wine vanished.

WineWorks Australia general manager Kent Brown said wine distribution companies should be alert to the missing bottles and if approached by anyone attempting to sell any of it - or a suspicious amount of cleanskin wine - they should contact WineWorks Australia on 08 8382 8882, Merrylands Police Station (Sydney) on 02 9897 4899, or Crimestoppers 1800 333 000.